The Pane: Highland Partnership
In a conversation with religious leaders trying to entrap Jesus into giving the wrong answer, they asked him what the greatest commandment was. Without hesitation, Jesus said, “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
As followers of Jesus, we know that the tangible expression of our faith in Jesus is to live as He lived and to love as He loves. But with so many needs in this world, it isn't easy to know where to begin or what to do. The magnitude of the needs can immobilize us from not doing anything at all.
Sometimes, the most profound act of love is not in grand gestures but in the quiet and consistent moments to be the presence of Jesus with others.
One of the ways UBC has been serving out of love in quiet and consistency is through our partnership with Highland Elementary School. For decades, members of UBC have invested time, resources, and presence among the students, their families, and faculty of the school.
As a new school year dawns, we are stepping forward to collaborate with the school in several ways.
First, throughout the year, we will collect items for Care Packages for each faculty member. Second, we are recruiting participants for the school’s Reading Friends program, in which volunteers can share 30-minutes with an individual student either online or in person. Third, we will provide families in need of a Thanksgiving meal kit to prepare at home. Fourth, we will wrap new books for each student in December. Finally, we will provide space for the school to celebrate the graduation of Pre-K and 5th graders at the end of the school year.
As we boldly step forward in this new school year, we build off the legacy of the many hours and resources that UBC members have poured into this partnership, knowing that their excellent work has paved the way for our present and future relationship with Highland Elementary.
I hope that you, along with your Sunday School and Spiritual Formation group, will consider collaborating with us in these tangible ways to love our neighbors. You can find more information about these opportunities in the Window and on the website.
Summer Gathering & Kids Club August 8th
Join our last Summer Gathering and Kids Club on August 8th at 4:00 pm. Kids, ages infant through 5th grade, will enjoy activities, crafts, games, lessons, and dinner. Drop off will occur at the Children’s Branch entrance. Register here by Saturday, August 7th: https://form.jotform.com/211965313899165
Adults can pick one of the following activities: baking art, party games, brush lettering art, or disc golf. A dessert social will wrap up the event at 6:00 pm. Please sign up for one of the activities by visiting this link or calling the office: https:// form.jotform.com/211966110938155
The Summer Gatherings are intended to be a time to build stronger connections within and through UBC. We hope you will not only participate but invite others to join you.
Kid's Club
Weather permitting: Children under 5 will be on the preschool playground with some gentle water games. Grade school kids - the fun is on! We’ll be doing a relay and enjoying fun in the water.
Parents: please pack a towel for your child.
We Need Your Help as Our Church Grows
As out church continues to grow, we need your help. Consider volunteering for one of the above.
MISSIONS
Make a Care Package for Highland Elementary Staff
We invite you to sign up to provide a care package for one of these 41 staff members. The care package should include candy, a $6 gift card to Lighthouse Coffee or CC’s, a small hand sanitizer bottle, lip balm, and something fun of your choosing.
We want to equip you to be the hands and feet of Jesus by pouring time, care, and attention into making one of these packages. This is why we are asking you to prepare the packages versus donating to the project.
Once you have purchased the items, drop by the church office to fill one of the official package bags, and write a personal note to put on the finishing touch. The office will be open on Sundays 9-11:30 am, and Monday through Thursday, 9 am-4:30 pm.
Ecuador Mission Immersion
Thank you for taking the time to meet with us yesterday to explore the 2022 Ecuador Mission Immersion.
We are pleased to announce that the trip will be held on July 18/19 through 26/27 (37) from yesterday's feedback.
Please remember that the $100 deposit is due by September 12, which will also be our next team meeting.
In the next few hours, you'll receive several Google calendar invitations to key dates and meetings. Please RSVP to the calendar invites to help with clear lines of communication for these key dates.
As we get close to some of the later meetings (January, May, and June), we will set specific times.
In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
I look forward to collaborating with you.